Wire length measuring and cutting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for producing electrical wire leads has two feeding clamps which are counter reciprocated between a fixed control station and an adjustable control station whose spacing from the fixed control station determines the length of the produced wire lead. Varying the spacing between the control stations automatically varies the cycling of the apparatus as required for the increased or decreased length of the produced wire lead.

"United States Patent Gudmestad 1 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] WIRE LENGTH MEASURING AND 3,583,268 6/1971 Scribner ..83/225 CUTTING APPARATUS I [72] Inventor: Ragnar Gudmestad, 2754 S. Waujz z zgi figg g gfig schran kesha Road. Waukesha, Wis. 53227 [73] Assignee: Artos Englneerlng Company, New [57] ABSTRACT Berlm An apparatus for producing electrical wire leads has [22] Filed: March 17, 1971 two feeding clamps which are counter reciprocated between a fixed control station and an adjustable con- [21] App! l25164 trol station whose spacing from the fixed control station determines the length of the produced wire lead. [52] US. Cl. ..83/ 151, 83/578, 83/277 Varying the spacing between the control stations auto- [51] Int. Cl ..B26v 7/06 matically varies the cycling of the apparatus as [58] Field of Search ..83/ 151, 222, 277, 578, 580 required for the increased or decreased length of the produced wire lead. [56] References Cited to W j ims,SSDrawinslisms UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1962 Andren ..83/l5l UX PATENTED B I972 3.701.301-

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ATTORNEY WIRE LENGTH MEASURING AND CUTTING APPARATUS The invention relates to the production of electrical wire leads of preselected length, and it is concerned more particularly with an apparatus for successively cutting such leads from a continuous source of wire stock.

In order to provide great quantities of accurately measured electrical wire leads at a high rate of speed, apparatus have heretofore been developed wherein two counter reciprocating feeding clamps function alternately to advance wire stock through a cutting zone and wherein a cutting mechanism severs a preselected length of wire from the stock after each feeding stroke of each clamp. An apparatus of that type is disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,494, issued on Apr. 17, 1962 to K. H. Andren for Art of Producing Electrical Conductors.

The counter reciprocating feeding clamps in apparatus of the mentioned type must be accurately -timed so that their operation will be properly synchronized, that is, their feeding and return strokes must be of the same length and the arrival of one clamp at the end of its feeding stroke must coincide with the arrival of the other clamp at the end of its return stroke, and vice versa. Further, pairs of wire gripping jaws which travel back and forth in unison with the feeding clamps must be timed precisely to open and close as necessary when the feeding clamps have moved into their respective end positions. Additionally, the cutting mechanism which successively severs the wire stock into leads of preselected length requires precise timing, that is, a cutting stroke at the exact moment when a feeding stroke has been completed by one clamp but not before the gripping jaws of the other clamp have taken hold of the uncut wire.

necessary re-arrangement and adjustment of parts for changing the length of the produced wire leads required extensive manual labor which was costly, time consuming and inconvenient.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the counter reciprocating feeding clamp type which avoids the hereinbefore outlined shortcomings and difficulties of the prior art.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism for cycling the apparatus, that is, for controlling the feed and return strokes of the feeding clamps, the successive gripping of wire stock alternately by the feeding clamps, the advancing of the gripped wire through a measuring zone of variable length, the operation of the cutting mechanism so that its cutting element will clear the wire during its advancement by the feeding clamps and sever the advanced wire from stock during a short moment of standstill of the feeding clamp, and the successive release of the cut wire leads alternately from the feeding clamps.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism for a pair of counter reciprocating feeding clamps, which will operate to stop the feeding clamps in accurately predetermined end positions without severe clash and thereby reduce shock and operating noise.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the above outlined character wherein the feeding clamps are equipped with up and down adjustable wire gripping jaws which may be lowered to grip a free end of wire stock on a given input level, then raise the gripped wire end to a feeding level, and finally lower the gripped wire end again to an output level in line with the input level.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the hereinabove outlined character, wherein the counter reciprocating feeding clamps are linearly movable back and forth between two control stations, one fixed and the other adjustably secured in spaced relation to the fixed station, and wherein a change of the distance between the control stations automatically changes the length of the produced wire leads.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the above mentioned character wherein the distance between the control stations can be changed while one of the feeding clamps is in cooperative engagement with one of the control stations and the other feeding clamp is in cooperative engagement with the other control station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the above mentioned character which readily lends itself for use with, and automatic control of, a chain type conveying mechanism by means of which successively produced wire leads may be transferred from the measuring and cutting zone to supplementary finishing equipment such as apparatus for stripping insulation from the cut wire leads and for applying terminals thereto at one or both ends.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention various novel features of which will be apparent from the description herein of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective partial view of an apparatus embodying the invention, as seen from its wire input end;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixed control station at the wire input end of the apparatus and also part of one of the wire feeding clamps within the operating range of the control station;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the end of the apparatus remote from its wire input end;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of FIG. 4 with parts broken away and shown in section on line 5--5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view partly in sec- V tion on line 6-6 of FIG. 3; showing a rotary to linear motion transducer;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6 with parts broken away and shown in section on line 7 -7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is atop view ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of a wire feeding clamp and associated wire gripping mechanism, partly in section;

FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views similar to FIG. 9 and show the wire gripping mechanism in different conditions of adjustment;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view of parts of a fixed control station at the left of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation, partly in section on line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial end elevation taken on line 15- 15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a detail view taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of parts of an adjustable control station at the right of FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation, partly in section, on line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a partial end elevation taken on line 19- 19 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a detail view taken on line 20-20 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a transducer control slide and latch assembly shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is a section view taken on line 22-22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 22a is an enlarged view of a closed auxiliary wire gripping clamp;

FIG. 22b is an enlarged view of an open auxiliary wire gripping clamp;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged partial side view of a wire transfer conveyor;

FIG. 24 is a partial top view of a conveyor chain and wire clamp assembly;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged partial section on line 25-25 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 26 is an end elevation of a cycling mechanism at the wire input end of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 27 to 29 are view similar to FIG. 27 and showing the cycling mechanism in different positions of adjustment; and

FIGS. 30 and 31 are electric and hydraulic circuit diagrams for the apparatus shown in the preceding Figures.

DESCRIPTION The principal components of the apparatus shown in the drawings are: A main frame 1; a pair of counterreciprocating wire feeding clamps 2 and 3; a fixed control station 4 at the wire input end of the frame, as seen in FIG. 2; a shiftable, control station 6 opposite to the fixed control station 4, as seen in FIG. 3, a wire cutting mechanism 7, as seen in FIG. 26; and a cycling mechanism 8 at the wire input end of the frame, as seen in FIG. 1.

THEORY OF OPERATION In theory, the clamp 2 travels during the final stage of a return stroke from the position in which it is shown in FIG. 3 to the left into the control station 4 with wire gripping jaws on the clamp in an open position. At the same time, the clamp 3 travels during the final stage of a feed stroke from the position in which it is shown in FIG. 3 to the right into the control station 6 with wire gripping jaws on the clamp in closed position. Upon arrival of the clamps in the control stations, they come to a momentary standstill during which the wire gripping jaws of clamp 2 are closed and those of clamp 3 are opened by a first operating phase of the cycling mechanism 8. Also, while the clamps are still at standstill, the cutting mechanism 7 is actuated by a second operating phase of the cycling mechanism with the result that a wire lead which has been drawn to the right of FIG. 3 by a feed stroke of clamp 3 is severed from stock at the control station 4. After the cutting stroke of the cutting mechanism, the clamp 2 is started on a feed stroke toward the right and the clamp 3 is simultaneously started on a return stroke toward the left of FIG. 3 by a third operating phase of the cycling mechanism. Upon arrival of clamp 2 at the end of its feed stroke in station 6 and the simultaneous arrival of clamp 3 at the end of its return stroke in station 4. the clamps come again to a momentary standstill. The cycling mechanism is then immediately operated again to simultaneously open the gripping jaws of clamp 2 at station 6 and close those of clamp 3 at station 4; then to cut the wire at station 4 and thereby sever the lead which has been drawn from stock by the feed stroke of clamp 2, and finally to simultaneously initiate a return stroke of clamp 2 and a feed stroke of clamp 3. In this manner, production of a wire lead by a feed stroke of clamp 2 is immediately followed by a feed stroke of clamp 3 which, in turn, is again immediately followed by a new feed stroke of clamp 2. Such alternate functioning of the feeding clamps may continue for any desired length of time to successively produce wire leads of a given length and at a high rate of speed.

TI-IE FEEDING CLAMPS In actual construction of the apparatus, the feeding clamp 2 comprises a generally cube shaped housing 9 (FIG. 6) which rides on a drive shaft 1 1 (FIG. 3) and is guided between upper and lower channel shaped side bars 12 and 13 (FIG. 1) of the frame I. The drive shaft 11 extends the full length of the frame 1 and is rotatably supported in a yoke 14 at the wire input end of the frame, and in a yoke 16 at the opposite end of the frame which carries power input gearing including an electric motor 17 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

The wire feeding clamp 3 is an opposite hand duplicate of the feeding clamp 2 and comprises a housing 9' (FIG. 25) which rides on a drive shaft 11 and is guided between upper and lower channel shaped side bars '12 and 13' of the frame 1. The drive shaft 11' (FIG. 3) extends parallel to the drive shaft 11 and is rotatably supported in the yokes 14 and 16 at the wire input and power input ends, respectively, of the frame.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, power of the electric motor 17 is transmitted to the shafts 11, 11' so as to rotate these shafts simultaneously in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows A and B in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by an endless V-belt 18 and an endless cog belt 19. The belt 18 connects a small diameter motor sheave 21 with a large diameter section of an idler sheave 22; and the belt 19 is trained around a small diameter section of the idler sheave 22, a drive sheave 23 on the shaft 11, an idler sheave 24 and a drive sheave 23' on the shaft 11'.

FIGS. 4 and 5 also show a second train of endless belts 26 and 27 which connect the motor 17 with a solenoid operated clutch 28, and a chain drive 29 connects the clutch 28 with a spline shaft 31. The spline shaft 31 has a driving connection with a pair of chain conveyors 30 and 30 (shown in FIG. 3) by means of which the produced wire leads may be transferred to supplementary finishing equipment as will be explained more fully hereinbelow.

The housing 9 of the feeding clamp 2, as shownin FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, encloses a mechanical transducer 31 that converts rotary motion of the shaft 11 into linear motion of the housing 9 along the shaft. Preferably, the transducer is of the free-wheeling roller type which is well known in the art and which is disclosed, for instance, in US. Pat. No. 3,475,972 issued Nov. 4, 1969 to J. P. Steibel for Controllable Motion and Force Converter. Briefly, the transducer comprises four rollers 32, 33, 34, and 36 which are housed in internal cavities of the housing 9. The cavity 37 which houses the roller 32 is diametrically opposed to a similar cavity (not shown) for the roller 34, and the cavity 38 which houses the roller 36 is diametrically opposed to a similar cavity (not shown) which houses the roller 33. The cavity 37 has a cylindrical inner surface whose axis extends radially of the shaft 1 1. Rotatably supported on that cylindrical surface and slideable axially thereon is a bushing 39 in which the roller 32 is mounted on a shaft 41 whose axis extends at right angles to the axis of the bushing 39. A Belleville washer 42 reacting between the housing 9 and the bushing 39 keeps the roller 32 pressed against the shaft 11. One end of the shaft 41 extends outward from the bushing 39 and overhangs the housing 9 at the side which faces the wire input end of the frame 1. The rollers 33, 34 and 36 are similarly supported on shafts, respectively, which protrude from the housing 9 toward the wire input end of frame 1. The protruding ends of the roller supporting shafts are caged in a face plate 47 which is piloted on the housing 9 for rotary adjustment about the axis of shaft 11, and which has a radial arm 48 carrying a spherical collar 49.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show the transducer 31 adjusted for a return drive of the clamp 2 from its FIG. 3 position into the control station 2. Such return drive adjustment is made by swinging the control arm 48 and collar 49 from a straight upright neutral position as indicated by the dash dotted line N into the inclined position R of FIG. 6. Conversely, in order to adjust the transducer 31 for a feed drive of the clamp 2, the control arm 48 and collar 49 are swung from the N position to the F position indicated in FIG. 6. In the N position of the control arm 48 and collar 49 the axes of the rollers 32, 33, 34 and 36 extend parallel to the shaft 11, and while the J rollers are urged into radial contact with the shaft by direction of a return stroke progressively increases as the control arm 48 is progressively rocked from the N position to the R position in FIG. 6, and it progressively decreases to standstill as the arm 48 is rocked from the R position to the N position. Similarly, when the control arm 48 is rocked from the N position to the F position in FIG. 6 the traveling speed of the clamp 2 on a feed stroke progressively increases as the arm 48 is progressively adjusted from the N position to the F position, and it progressively decreases to standstill as the arm 48 is progressively rocked from the F position to the N position.

The foregoing explanations regarding the propulsion of the clamp 2 selectively in opposite directions analogously apply to the clamp 3, which incorporates a rotary to linear motion transducer corresponding to the transducer 31 of the clamp 2. The clamp 3 transducer has a control arm 48' (FIG. 25) corresponding to the control arm 48 of the clamp 2 transducer 31, but since the direction in which the shaft 11 rotates is opposite to that of shaft 11 a feed stroke of clamp 3 is effected by adjustment of the control arm 48' about the axis of shaft 11' in the same direction in which the control arm 48 of the clamp 2 transducer is adjusted about the axis of shaft 11 for a return stroke. Similarly, in order to propel the clamp 3 for a return stroke its transducer control arm 48' is adjusted about the axis of shaft 1 1' in the same direction in which the control arm 48 of the clamp 2 transducer is adjusted about the axis of the shaft 11 for a feed stroke. If the directions in which the shafts 11, 11 are rotated were reversed, as by reversal of the motor 17, the directions in which the transducer control arms are adjusted would obviously also have to be reversed.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show the wire gripping mechanism of the feeding clamp 2. This mechanism is located at the side of the clamp which faces the power input end of the apparatus and it is constructed as follows. A long jaw 51 is pivotally suspended on a pivot pin 52 which in turn is secured to a carrier slide 53. The transducer housing 9 has a recessed comer portion in which the carrier slide 53 is guided for up and down movement between an upper stop plate 54 and a lower stop plate 56. A coil spring 57 (FIG. 10) in the lower end of the carrier slide 53 bears against the stop plate 56 and tends to urge the slide upward against the stop plate 54. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the slide 53 in a lowered position as compared with FIG. 12 which shows the slide in its upper limit position. A roller 58 is mounted on the upper end of the slide and is cammed downward so as to lower the slide from the FIG. 12 position to the FIG. 9 position when the feeding clamp 2 enters the control station 6 on a feed stroke and when it enters the control station 4 on a return stroke. Similarly, the roller 58 is cammed upward so as to raise the slide 53 from the FIG. 9 position to the FIG. 12 position when the clamp 2 leaves the control station 6 on a return stroke and when it leaves the control station 4 on a feed stroke.

The long jaw 51 has a channel shaped intermediate portion which straddles a short jaw 59, and a pivot pin 61 extends through the channel flanges of the long jaw 51 and through hub portion of the short jaw 59 to provide for closing and opening of the wire gripping lips of the jaws by swinging movement of the jaw 59 towards and away from the jaw 51 about the axis of the pivot pin 61. A pair of guide links 62 extend between the pivot pin 61 and a fixed pivot pin 63 on the transducer 

1. In a wire length measuring and cutting apparatus, the combination of a frame; a pair of simultaneously rotating drive shafts mounted on and extending between opposite ends of said frame; a pair of wire feeding clamps shiftable, respectively, along said shafts and non-rotatably guided on said frame for counter reciprocating feed and return strokes thereof; a pair of mechanical transducers movable, respectively, with said feeding clamps along said shafts in cooperative engagement therewith and operable to convert rotary movements of said shafts into axial movements of said feeding clamps selectively in opposite directions; cycling means operatively associated with said transducers so as to effect said feed and return strokes of said feeding clamps; wire input means at one end of said frame; jaw means operatively mounted on each of said feeding clamps for selective adjustment thereon to wire gripping and wire releasing positions in cooperative relation to wire protruding from said input means; wire cutting means operatively mounted on said frame adjacent said one end thereof; and actuating means for said jaw and cutting means controlled by said cycling means so that said jaw means will be in said wire gripping position during said feed strokes and in said wire releasing position durIng said return strokes of said feeding clamps, and so that said wire cutting means will execute a cutting stroke upon completion of a feed stroke of each of said feeding clamps.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising wire conveying means extending transversely of said frame; auxiliary wire clamping means operatively associated with said conveying means and selectively adjustable to wire gripping and wire releasing positions; actuating means for said conveying and auxiliary wire clamping means controlled by said cycling means so that upon completion of a feed stroke of each of said feeding clamps said auxiliary wire clamping means will be adjusted to said wire gripping position thereof and said conveying means will subsequently be moved a predetermined distance transversely of said frame; and actuating means operatively associated with said conveying means for adjusting said auxiliary wire gripping means from said wire gripping to said wire releasing position thereof.
 3. In a wire length measuring and cutting apparatus, the combination of a frame; a pair of simultaneously rotating drive shafts mounted on and extending between opposite ends of said frame; a pair of counter reciprocating wire feeding clamps shiftable, respectively, along said shafts and non-rotatably guided on said frame; a pair of mechanical transducers movable, respectively, with said feeding clamps along said shafts in cooperative engagement therewith and each including a control element selectively adjustable to neutral and opposite axial drive establishing positions; cycling means operatively associated with said transducer control elements so as to initiate a feed stroke of one of said feeding clamps from one toward the other of said frame ends while simultaneously initiating a return stroke of the other feeding clamp from said other toward said one frame end, and subsequently to initiate a return stroke of said one feeding clamp while simultaneously initiating a feed stroke of said other feeding clamp; wire input means at said one end of said frame; jaw means operatively mounted on each of said feeding clamps for selective adjustment thereon to wire gripping and wire releasing positions in cooperative relation to wire protruding from said wire input means; wire cutting means operatively mounted on said frame adjacent said one end thereof; and actuating means for said jaw and cutting means controlled by said cycling means so that said jaw means will be in said wire gripping position during said feed strokes and in said wire releasing position during said return strokes of said feeding clamps, and so that said wire cutting means will execute a cutting stroke upon completion of a feed stroke of each of said feeding clamps.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein a pair of drive decelerating cam elements are fixedly mounted on said frame in cooperative relation to said transducer control elements so as to stop said return strokes of said feeding clamps at said one frame end, and said feed strokes at a predetermined distance therefrom; and wherein said cycling means are operable to adjust said transducer control elements to a first operative position for simultaneously initiating a feed stroke of one and a return stroke of the other of said stopped feeding clamps, and to subsequently adjust said transducer control elements to a second operative position for simultaneously initiating a return stroke of said one and a feed stroke of the other of said stopped feeding clamps.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cycling means comprise a master slide reciprocably mounted on said frame; motor means on said frame operable to shift said master slide alternately in opposite directions; motion transmitting means operatively connected with said master slide and cooperable with said transducer control elements on said feeding clamps in said stopped conditions of the latter so as to initiate a feed stroke of one and a return stroke of the other of said feEding clamps in response to a shift of said master slide in one direction, and so as to initiate a return stroke of said one and a feed stroke of said other feeding clamp, in response to a shift of said master slide in the other direction.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising motion transmitting means operatively connected with said master slide and with said wire cutting means so as to operate the latter by a shift of said master slide in either direction.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising control means for said motor means responsive to movement of one of said feeding clamps, into one of its stopped positions so as to effect a shift of said master slide in one direction, and responsive to movement of said one feeding clamp into the other of its stopped positions so as to effect a shift of said master slide in the other direction.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising dual control means for said motor means operative to effect a shift of said master slide from one position to another upon a feed stroke of one and a return stroke of the other of said feeding clamps, and to subsequently effect a shift of said master slide from said other to said one position upon a return stroke of said one and a feed stroke of said other feeding clamp.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising a pair of drive accelerating cam elements and a pair of drive decelerating cam elements mounted on said frame in cooperative relation to said transducer control elements so as to adjust the latter to full speed positions subsequent to initiation of said feed and return strokes of said feeding clamps, and so as to adjust said transducer control elements to neutral positions upon completion of said feed and return strokes of said feeding clamps.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein one of said drive decelerating and one of said drive accelerating cam elements are mounted at said wire input end of said frame, and wherein the other drive decelerating and accelerating cam elements are adjustably mounted for positioning at preselected spacings from said wire input end.
 11. In a wire feeding and cutting apparatus, the combination of a frame; a pair of simultaneously rotating drive shafts mounted on and extending between opposite ends of said frame; a pair of wire feeding clamps shiftable, respectively, along said shafts and non-rotatably guided on said frame for counter reciprocating feed and return strokes thereof; a pair of mechanical transducers movable, respectively, with said feeding clamps along said shafts in cooperative engagement therewith and operable to convert rotary movements of said shafts into axial movements of said feeding clamps selectively in opposite directions; cycling means operative associated with said transducers so as to initiate said feed and return strokes of said feeding clamps, wire input means at one end of said frame; wire gripping jaws mounted, respectively on said feeding clamps for back and forth movement thereon into and out of wire straddling positions, and each selectively adjustable in said wire straddling position to wire gripping and wire releasing positions in cooperative relation to wire protruding from said wire input means; means including cam elements fixedly mounted on said frame and cam follower elements associated, respectively, with said jaws for moving said jaws into said wire straddling positions preparatory to said feed strokes, and out of said wire straddling positions preparatory to said return strokes of said feeding clamps; wire cutting means operatively mounted on said frame adjacent said one end thereof; and actuating means controlled by said cycling means for adjusting said jaws in their wire straddling positions to said wire gripping positions preparatory to said feed strokes, and to said wire releasing positions preparatory to said return strokes of said feeding clamps, and for operating said wire cutting means upon completioN of a feed stroke of each of said feeding clamps.
 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cycling means comprises a master slide reciprocably mounted on said frame, a pair of cam tracks on said master slide, and cam follower elements in cooperative relation, respectively, with said cam tracks and with said jaws so that movement of said master slide in one direction will adjust one of said jaws to said wire gripping position and the other jaw to said wire releasing position, and so that movement of said master slide in the other direction will adjust said one jaw to said wire releasing and said other jaw to said wire gripping position.
 13. A wire feeding and cutting machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reciprocable master slide is further operatively connected with said wire cutting means so that the latter will move into cutting position by movement of said slide element in one direction, and so that said cutting means will again move into cutting position by movement of said master slide in the other direction.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising a pair of endless conveyors extending transversely of said frame and spaced transversely from each other, and auxiliary wire clamping means operatively associated with said conveyors and controlled by said master slide so as to move from wire straddling to wire gripping positions upon a feed stroke of each of said feeding clamps.
 15. In a wire length measuring and cutting apparatus of the type wherein a pair of counter reciprocating wire feeding clamps are alternately operative to advance a length of wire from a supply of wire stock a wherein a cutting mechanism severs the advanced wire length after a feed stroke of each of said clamps, the improvement comprising, a pair of transversely spaced shafts rotatably mounted on said apparatus in axially fixed positions, drive means for continuously rotating said shafts, a pair of rotary to lineal motion transducers having driving connections, respectively, with said shafts and axial thrust transmitting connections, respectively, with said feeding clamps, and control means operatively associated with said motion transducers for initiating a feed stroke of one and a return stroke of the other of said feeding clamps, and for subsequently initiating return stroke of said one and a feed stroke of the other of said feeding clamps. 